Terror Ambush in Manipur: Two Assam Rifles Jawans Martyred, Five Injured
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Imphal
- Sep 19, 2025
- 848
Two soldiers of the Assam Rifles were killed in action and five others sustained injuries after their truck was ambushed by terrorists on the outskirts of Imphal this evening.
The attack took place around 5:50 pm when heavily armed men opened fire on a 407 Tata vehicle carrying the paramilitary personnel from Patsoi operating base to Nambol base along NH-2. The site of the ambush—Nambol Sabal Leikai in Bishnupur district—lies just 8 km from Imphal Airport and on the same stretch of road used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the state a week ago.
According to an official statement, Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap laid down their lives in the line of duty. The injured jawans were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal. Search operations have been launched to track down the perpetrators, though no group has claimed responsibility yet.
“All ranks of the Assam Rifles pay solemn tribute to those who made the supreme sacrifice in Manipur today and offer deep condolences to the families of our brave soldiers,” the Assam Rifles said in a post on X.
The incident comes despite the enforcement of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) across Manipur, except in 13 police station areas of five valley districts. Notably, Nambol falls in Bishnupur district, which is outside AFSPA coverage.
Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act of violence” and pledged the “strongest resolve” to maintain peace in the region. Former CM N. Biren Singh also visited the injured at RIMS.
The ambush has rattled Manipur’s fragile calm, as the state was beginning to emerge from over two years of ethnic conflict. Terror attacks on the Assam Rifles are not new; in 2021, a similar ambush in Churachandpur claimed the lives of Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his family, and three soldiers.
Friday’s incident once again highlights the persisting insurgent threat in Manipur, where nine banned Meitei extremist groups remain active.